Exercising device



Oct. 24, 1961 o. RIEMIER EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 INVENTOR. 3 OSCAR. L. R/EMER BY MM ATTORNEYS Oct. 24, 1961 o. L. RIEMER 3,005,633

EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1958 a Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 50 I 0504/? L. R/EMER A T TOPNEYS Oct. 24, 1961 o. RIEMER 3,005,633

EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1958, s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. OSCAR L. R/EMER BY W, M9094 ATTORNEYS ilnite grates Patent 3,665,633 EXERCISHJG DEVIQE Oscar L. Rierner, 5971 Seminary Ave, Oakiand, Calif. Fiied Sept. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 762,358 Claims. (Cl. 2'72-58) This invention relates to an exercising device of the type adapted to support the body of a person thereon in a reclining or semi-reclining position and which device is so constructed as to enable such person to bend the body against yieldable resistance of the exercising device to thereby exercise the muscles and different portions of the body.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a device of the above type adapted to safely provide a. usable yieldable resistance over a longer range of movement than has heretofore been possible in devices of similar character. By the term usable resistance, is meant a resistance that is within the ability of the user to overcome. Most structures heretofore provided have resistances that increase so rapidly with movement of the body that the person is unable to obtain the results desired, and which come from a relatively wide range of movement. Also, in most prior devices of a character similar to the present one, the weight of an abnormally heavy person, plus the added exertions made by such person to exercise the muscles of the back or abdomen, will permanently spring the exercising device, or they will break. With the present structure the above objections are overcome.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an exerciser of the type hereinabove described, that employs a bowed spring or the equivalent, that functions independently of the support that supports the body supporting part of the exerciser above the floor, for creating the yieldable resistance to the movements of the person on the exerciser, the later itself being substantially in the form of a. pair of pivotally connected sections on Which a person may rest in a reclining or semi-reclining position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an exercising device of the type hereinabove noted that includes means for exercising the arms simultaneously with exercising the body while the body is in a reclined or semi-reclined position.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the device in one position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1 with the body supporting panels thereon.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1 without the body supporting panels indicated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 with a portion of the body supporting panel thereon.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view of a portion of the device taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged, part sectional and part elevational view taken along line 6+6 of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 7, 8, 8a and 9 show different springs that may be employed in place of the one illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the body supporting panel being shown in each view in place on the device.

FIG. 10 is a reduced size side elevational view showing the device in use in one position thereof, with a person on said device.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the main body of the exerciser, showing a structure that is a modification of the device of FIG. 1 and in which the support for the ice body of a person is omitted for clarity in showing structure.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the exerciser of FIG. 11 showing parts of the flexible sheet material that may be used in place of the more rigid panels of FIG. 1, if desired.

In detail, the example of the invention that is illustrated in the drawings comprises a pair of similar, substantially oblong and generally horizontally disposed sections generally designated 1 and 2 (FIG. 2) on which the body of a person may lie with the upper portion of the body on either portion with the lower portion of the body on the other. However, when the device is shown in the position indicated in FIGS. 2 and 10, the upper portion of the body is usually on section 1 and the lower portion on section 2, while the reverse may be usually the case when the device is in the position indicated in FIG. 9.

Section 1 comprises a centrally open, oblong frame generally designated 3 (FIG. 1) having parallel side frame members 4, an inner end member or portion 5, and an outer end member or portion 6.

The end portions 5, 6 of the frame 3 are preferably integrally connected at their opposite ends with the side frame members 4, although in the device as shown, the inner end portion 5 is actually a continuation of the side frame members 4 and all of the frame members are shown as being of tubular metal structure.

The outer end frame member 6 may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the corresponding outer ends of the side frame member 4, leaving the outer ends of the latter open. Said side frame members 4 are parallel, and telescopically fitted in the outer end portions of the side frame. members 4- are the tubular parallel legs 7 (FIG. 6) of a generally U-shaped piece 8, which legs. are connected by tubular bar 9 that is integral with legs 7 and parallel with the outer end frame member 6.

A helical spring 10 (FIG. 6) within the outer end portion of each side frame member 4- is connected at one end thereof with the inner end of each leg 7 of said U-shaped piece 8, and the opposite end of each spring 10 is connected with a pin 11 or any other suitable means rigid with the side frame member in which the. spring is positioned.

From the foregoing it is seen that the U-shaped part 8 is an outer end portion of the section 1 and the bar 9 may be called hand gripping means since it is adapted to be grasped by the hands of a person lyingon the device in a position substantially as shown in FIG. 10. If desired, any suitable stop means separate. from spring 10 may be provided to keep the bar 9 spaced from the end frame member 6 so the hands. may readily grasp the bar 9 at any time. In FIG. 6 the collapsed spring 10 will function as a stop means, but in any event the curved ends of bar 8 where the bar joins the legs. 71 would space the bar 9 from the end frame member 6 and would thus'act-as a stop means in the event the spring 10 were under contracting tension when the U-shaped member were'in collapsed position.

Intermediate the inner end portion or frame member Sand the outer frame member 6 is a cross frame member 13 (FIGS. 1, 3) that is rigid with the side frame members 4, and parallel with said end portion 5. This cross frame member is preferably spaced from the inner end portion 5 approximately one-third the distance between the inner end portion 5 and the outer end frame member 6, although the invention is not to be considered as being restricted to this distance.

The section 2 comprises a centrally open oblong, frame generally designated 14, which frame may be entirely formed of a tubular material providing parallel, horizontally spaced side frame members 15, an inner end frame member, or inner end portion 16 and an outer end frame member 17 parallel with said member 16.

The dimensions and shape of the frame 14 may substantially correspond to the: dimensions and shape of frame 3, and a cross frame member 18 in a position in frame 14 corresponding to the cross frame member 13 in frame 3 may extend between and be integrally secured to the side frame members of section 2.

Sections 1, 2 are in end to end relation with the inner end portions 5, 16 being hingedly connected together by a horizontal pin 19 (FIG. 2) extending through axially aligned rigid loops 20 (FIG. 3) respectively carried on and rigid with the adjacent end portions 5, 16. This is conventional hinge structure,'the sections 1, 2 being movable relatively about the common axis of pins 19, or the latter may be throughpins with any number of loops alternately secured to end portions 5, 16, similar to piano hinges.

While section 2 may carry hand gripping means corresponding to the U-sha-ped piece 8 on section 1, ordinarily no such means is provided on section 2.

Below the cross frame member 13 is a vertically extending support, generally designated 22 which may be in the form of a vertically disposed rectangular frame of tubular material having a horizontally extending upper side 23 and a horizontally extending lower side 24 with vertical members 25 extending between the opposite ends of sides 23, 24..

Below the cross frame member 18 of frame 14 is a second vertically disposed support generally designated 26 in the form of a rectangular frame of tubular material having an upper side 27 and a lower side 28, and vertical sides 29 integrally connected with the ends of sides 27, 28. This frame 26 is preferably of less height than frame 22.

The upper side 23 of frame 22 is parallel with the cross member 13 that is thereabove, and upper side 27 of frame 26 is parallel with the cross framemember 18 that is thereabove. Said upper sides 23, 27 of frames 22, 26 are respectively hingedly connected with the cross frame members 13, 18 by substantially the same type of hinge connections as that which connects the frames 3, 14, namely; aligned, rigid loops 31 respectively rigid with the said cross frame members and the upper sides of the supporting means therebelow, and a pin 32 (FIG. 5) may extend through each setof aligned loops. I

The lower sides 24, 28 of the'supporting frames 22, 28 may be centrally connected by an elongated bar 33 that extends at its ends across the lower sides 24, 28 at points centrally between the ends of' said lower sides. Vertical stud bolts 34 respectively on said lower sides extend vertically through the ends of the bar 33, and wing nuts 35 on the upper threaded ends of said bolts secure the bar to said lower sides. The connections between bar 33 and lower sides 24, 28 are not so rigid that slight rotary movement of the lower sides 24, 28 is prevented, for such movement, though very slight, is permitted.

Generally U-shaped spring means 36 connect the upper sides 23, 27 of the supporting frames 22, 26. This spring means may take several forms, but they function in. the same manner. In FIGS. 1 to 3 a pair of correspondingly U-shaped steel spring rods 37 arein horizontally spaced, side by side parallel relation. One of the ends 'of the upwardly extending legs 38 of said bars are rigidly connected with a horizontally extending block 39 that, in turn, is centrally apertured at 40 for a bolt 41 (FIG. 5 Bolt 41 extends horizontally through the upper side 23 of frame 22 and through the aperture 40 in block 38. A nut 42 on bolt 41 secures the block on the bolt, and this'bolt preferably has a rounded face that engages the block 39.

The aperture 40 is larger bolt 41, and the side of the block 39 opposite to nut 42 engages the curved side of the upper side 23 of frame 22,

than the diameter of the.

hence the block is adapted to pivot slightly about a horizontal axis relative to the side 23.

The upwardly extending legs 44 at the ends of spring rods 37 that are opposite to legs 33 are rigidly connected with a block 45 that is identical with block 39, and a bolt 46 (FIG. 2) connects block 39 with the upper side 27 of frame 26 in exactly the same manner as block 39 is secured to upper side 23.

A fiat leaf spring 47 (FIG. 8) or a more arcuately bowed spring 48 (FIG. 8a) may be used instead of the bars 37, said springs 47, 48 each being apertured at each of their ends as indicated in FIGS. 8, Set, for the bolts corresponding to bolts 41, 46.

The bar springs 37 in FIGS. 1, 2, 9, 10 are bowed throughout their central portions, which is preferable, but in a relatively low device, the bars 49 (FIG. 7) may have the central portion horizontal, and the same is true of the leaf spring as shown in FIG. 8. Nevertheless, the springs of either of these forms are bowed where the legs join the central horizontal sections thereof.

The employment of spring bars 37 is usually preferable because of the ease of manufacture and the ease of varying the tension, since for greater tension three or more of the same sized bars may be used, whereas in the case of solid fiat leaf stock beingused, different gauges would be required. The invention, however, is not restricted to one or the other, except where specifically claimed.

Secured on frame 3 is an oblong rigid panel 59 having a padded upper surface. The rigid panel itself has metal plates 51 (FIG. 4) secured to their lower sides, which plates are provided with threaded openings adapted to threadedly receive the threaded ends of bolts 52 that extend through openings in the frame. Thus the panels are removably secured to the frame 3.

A panel 53 for frame 14 is identical in construction with panel and is removably secured on frame 14 in the same manner as the panel 5% is secured to the frame 3.

The panels 50, 53, being rigid, preclude the undesirable sagging of the body, as would be the case were these panels flexible.

FIGS. 9, 10 illustrate two of the positions in which the device may be used, and different height frames 26, 22 or frames of the same height may be used, as desired. These supporting frames are readily removable and replaceable byothers of different heights, but of the same structure,

if desired. f

p In operation, FIG. 10 illustrates the panels 59, 53 in a position in which a person 55 thereon is in a reclining or semi-reclining position. By exerciseof the appropriate body muscles,-such as the abdominal and back muscles, the panels will pivot relative to each other about their pivotal connections with the supporting frames, and also the person on the exercising device may grasp the hand grasping means or outer end portion 8 and move the latter outwardly of the frame 3 against the resistance of the springs 10, thereby exercising the arm musicles and particularly those that are below the upper arm, such as the triceps muscles, that tend to become flabby from lack of exercise.

In FIG. 9 the panels 50, 53 on frames 3, 14 are in posi tions relative to each other that are the reverse of that shown in FIG. 10, and the body of the person 55 is bent oppositely to that shown in FIG. .10. While a person on the panels cannot reverse the positions of the panels, this can be accomplished by forceably moving'the panels so their hinged connections move past center 'or across a straight line extending between the outer end portions of the frames 3, 14.

Oneof the principal advantages of the present structure is that the yieldability of the spring means over a relatively long range is relatively uniform and thereby enables a person on the panels to safely accomplish re sults that cannot be accomplished where there is a sudden material increase in the resistance to movement of the panels relative to each other after a relatively short movement. Also by distributing the flexing of the spring means over substantially its entire length, there is no likelihood of breakage thereof at localized points.

It is, of course, obvious that different strength springs may be readily substituted in the device, without more effort than the substitution of one spring for another, hence a single device may be readily adapted to the ability of the person using it.

The exerciser of FIGS. 11, 12, 13 is similar to that of FIG. 1, but is more rigid in certain respects. in this device, a pair of substantially oblong frame members, generally designated 57, 5 8, correspond generally to frame members 3, 14 of FIG. 1. Frame 57' has an outer end frame member 59 that is identical to end frame member 6 of FIG. 1 and a U-shaped hand gripping means generally designated 60 is identical in all respects with the hand gripping means 8 of FIG. 1.

The inner end frame member 61 of frame 57 that is similar to inner end frame member 5 of frame 3, is bowed generally downwardly also in a direction toward the outer end frame member 59 as seen in FIG. 13, but adjacent to the ends of this inner frame member are short straight portions that are adapted to be enclosed in loop bearings 62 that are rigid with the ends of inner end frame member of frame 58.

The frame 58 is generally the same as frame 14 of FIG. 1. One exception is that the inner end frame member 63 is bowed downwardly between its opposite end portions, and generally toward the opposite or outer end frame member 64 of frame 58, the latter being identical with the end frame member 17 of frame 14.

Whereas the cross frame members 13 and 118 of frames 3 and 14 are straight, in the case of frames 57, 58, cross frame members 65, 66 are provided, and these are bowed downwardly in planes that are at right angles to the planes of frames 57, 58 respectively.

The cross frame members 65, 66 are in positions that correspond to the positions of cross frame members 13, 18, although in FIGS. 11 to 13 the ends of the cross frame members 65, 66 may extend below the side frame members 67 of frame 57 and side frame members 68 of frame 58, as seen in FIGS. 11,12, and said end portions of the cross frame members 65, 66 may be welded or brazed or otherwise rigidly secured to the side frame members 67, 68 of frames 57, 58 respectively,

A vertically disposed, generally U-shaped support 713 is provided below the frame 57 which has a pair of vertically extending, spaced parallel legs 71 integrally connected at their lower ends by a horizontally extending section 72 that forms the closed lower end of the U.

The upper free ends of legs 71 have horizontally dis posed, axially aligned sleeve bearings 73 rigid therewith through which the end portions of the cross frame member 65 rotatably extend at points adjacent to the side frame members 67.

Similarly, a vertically disposed generally U-shaped support 74 of the same structure as that of support 70' is below the cross frame member 66. The legs 75 of support 74 are preferably shorter than the legs 71, and they have axially aligned sleeve bearings 76 rigid on their upper ends through which the end portions of the cross frame member 66 rotatably extend. The lower closed end of the U-shaped support 74 is horizontally extending bar 77 integral with the legs 75 at the lower ends of the latter.

A horizontal bar 78 spaced slightly below the cross frame member 65 of frame 5-7 is rigidly connected at its ends with legs 71, while a similar horizontal bar 79 spaced slightly below the cross frame member 66 of frame member 58 is rigidly secured at its ends to legs 75 of support 74.

Centrally between the ends of the horizontally extending members 72, 77 that form the lower closed ends of 6 the U-shaped supports 71, 74 the said members 72, 77 are bolted to the ends of a bar 80 that may be straight or bowed upwardly between its said ends as seen in FIG. 12.

Above the bar 80 is a pair of generally U-shaped spring rods 81 that are similar to the rods 37 of FIG. 1 and that perform a function similar to that of the rods 37.

The upper ends of the spring rods 81 at one of their ends are rigidly connected with a sleeve bearing 32 through which the bar 78 rotatably extends, and the upper ends of the spring rods 81 at their opposite ends are rigidly connected with a sleeve bearing 83 through which the bar 79 extends.

The central portions of the spring rods 81 extend below a clamping plate 84 that, in turn, is bolted by bolt 85 to the bar 84) at a point substantially midway between the ends of the latter.

The spring rods 81 being connected with the plate 84 which is secured to the bar 80 thus help to give more rigidity to the exerciser than were the said springs free from bar 8ft.

The downward bowing of the cross frame members 65, 66 and the inner end frame members 61, 63 enables body-supporting flexible, but taut sheets 86, 87 (FIG. 13) to be carried on the frames 57, '58 for supporting a person thereon without danger of the body striking the said frame members. However, apertures 88 are provided in the frames 57, 58 for the bolts 52 in the event rigid panels are to be secured to the frames.

It is to be understood that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. An exercising device comprising the combination of; a pair of generally horizontally elongated sections in endto-end relation adapted to support the body of a person thereon with the upper portion of such body on one section and with the lower portion of such body on the other section, means hingedly connecting the adjacent ends of said sections to enable movement of said sections to different positions in a vertical plane extending angularly relative to each other about said hinge means, a pair of separate vertically disposed, rigid supports respectively below each of said sections for supporting each section, means pivotally connecting the upper end of each support to the section thereover to provide for movement of said sections and said supports relative to each other about parallel horizontal axes, horizontally extending rigid means extending between the lower end portions of saidsupports, means pivotally connecting the ends of said rigid means with said lower end portions to provide for movement of said rigidmeans and said lower end portions relative to each other about horizontal axes parallel with said first-mentioned axes, a generally U-shaped spring connected at its ends with the upper end portions of said supports yieldably holding said supports in positions in which said sections extend angularly relative to each other whereby movement of said sections relative to each other about said hinge means will be yieldably resisted by said spring only.

2. An exercising device comprising the combination of; a pair of generally horizontally elongated sections in end-to-end relation adapted to support the body of a person thereon with the upper portion of such body on one section and with the lower portion of such body on the other section, means hingedly connecting the adjacent ends of said sections to enable movement of said sections to different positions in a vertical plane extending angularly relative to each other about said hinge means, a pair of separate vertically disposed, rigid supports respectively below each of said. sections for supporting each section, means pivotally connecting the upper end of each support to the section thereover to provide for movement of said sections and said supports relative to each other about parallel horizontal axes, horizontally extendingtrigid means extending between the lower end portions of said supports, means pivotally connecting the ends of said rigid means with said lower end portions to provide for movement of said rigid means' and said lower end portions relative to each other about horizontal axes parallel with said first-mentioned axes, a generally U-shaped spring connected at its ends with the upper end portions of said supports yieldably holding said supports in positions in which said sections extend angularly relativelto each other whereby movement of said sections relative to each other about said hinge means will be yieldably resisted by said spring only, and means connecting said spring with said rigid means at a point intermediate the ends of said rigid means and said spring.

3. An exercising device comprising the combination of; apair of similar, generally horizontally disposed and horizontally elongated sections in end-to-end relation adapted to support the body of a person thereon with the upper and lower portions of such body on said sections respectively, hinge means connecting the adjacent ends of said sections to provide for relative movement of the latter about a hor zontal axis, a pair of vertical disposed, horizontally spaced, rigid opposed tubular frames respectively below each of said sections providng a pair of rigid supports for said sections each having a horizontally extending upper frame member and a horizontally extending lower frame member substantially parallel with said axis, a horizontally extending cross member rigid with. each section at a point intermediate the opposite ends of each section, each of said cross members being adjacent to and parallel with one of said frame members, means pivotally connecting each of said frame members with the cross member adjacent therewith to provide for relative movement between said sections and said supports about axes parallel with said horizontal axis, a horizontally extending rigid bar, means pivotally connecting the ends of said bar with said lower frame members at points intermediate the ends of the latter to provide for relative movement between the ends of said bar and said lower frame members about axes parallel with said horizontal axis, a downwardly bowed spring having upwardly extending opposite end portions respectively connected with said upper frame member whereby relative movement between said sctions at said hinge means will be yieldably resisted solely by said spring.

a 4. An exercising device comprising the combination of; a pair of similar, generally horizontally disposed and horizontally elongated sections in end-to-end relation adapted to support the body of a person thereon with the upper and lower portions of such body on said sections respectively, hingelmeans connecting the adjacent ends of said sections to provide for relative movement of the latter about a horizontal axis, a pair of vertical disposed, horizontally spaced, rigid opposed tubular frames respectively below each of said sections providing a pair of rigid supports for said sections each having a horizontally extending upper frame member and a horizontally extending lower frame member substantially parallel with said axis, a horizontally extending cross member rigid with each section at a point intermediate the opposite ends of each section, each of said cross members being adjacent to and parallel with one of said frame members, means pivotally connecting each of said frame members with the cross member adjacent therewith to provide for relative movement between said sections and said supports about axes parallel with said horizontal axis, a horizontally extending rigid bar, means pivotally connecting the ends of said bar with said lower frame members at points intermediate the ends of the latter to provide for relative movement between the ends of said bar and said lower frame members about axes parallel with said horizontal axis, a downwardly bowed spring having upwardly extending opposite end port-ions respectively connected with said upper frame member whereby relative movement between said sections at said hinge means will be yieldably resisted solely by said spring, means connecting said spring with said bar at a point intermediate the ends of said spring and bar.

5. An exercising device comprising the combination of; a pair of similar, horizontally elongated and generally horizontally disposed sections in end-to-end relation extending away from each other adapted to support the body of a person thereon, hinge means connecting the adjacent ends of said sections to provide for relative movement between said sections about a horizontal axis at said hinge means, separate rigid, vertically extending supports for said sections respectively below each of said sections at points intermediate the ends of each section, means pivotally connecting the upper end portions of said supports with said sections to provide for relative movement between said sections and said supports about axes parallel with said horizontal axis, a rigid horizontally extending bar spaced below the adjacent ends of said sections, meansrpivotally connecting the ends of said bar with the lower portions of said supports to provide for relative movement between the ends of said bar and said lower end portions about axes parallel with said horizontal axis, yieldable means above said rigid bar and spaced from the portions of said supports below their upper end portions yieldably connecting the upper end portions of said supports for yieldably holding said supports substantially vertical and for yieldably resisting movement of said sections relative to each other about said horizontal axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,644,505 Dorton July 7, 1953 2,694,438 Frech Nov. 16, 1954 2,724,428 Sellner Nov. 22, 1955 

